Parenting: Prenatal Careand

Birth Defects

Objectives: TSWBAT Describe the importance of prenatal care.Identify the risks associated with pregnancy.

Prenatal Care Health care you get while you are

pregnant. Early/regular prenatal care Prenatal care includes:

Physical exams/Ultra sound Nutrition Monitoring of weight and health Lab Tests Calculation of due date

Prenatal Care Obstetrician (OB/GYN) - A medical doctor

who specializes in management of pregnancy, labor, and birth.

Certified Nurse Midwife – Advanced practice registered nurse who has specialized education and training in nursing and midwifery.

Healthy Pregnancy A pregnant woman must be very careful

about what substances she takes into her body.

Eat a well balanced diet (extra 300 calories) Prenatal vitamins Calcium Protein Iron Vitamin A Vitamin B complex Folic Acid

Healthy Pregnancy cont. Avoid substances that may be

dangerous;Cigarettes Accounts for 30% of low birth weight

babies; 14% of premature births & 10% of infant deaths

Alcohol

Drugs (including medications)

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Condition that results from alcohol exposure during pregnancy

Problems that may be caused by FAS include physical deformities, mental retardation, learning disorders, vision difficulties and behavioral problems (varies from child to child).

There is no amount of alcohol that’s known to be safe to consume during pregnancy.

Healthy Pregnancy cont.

Stay active Get plenty of rest Minimize stress Avoid x-rays

Complications – Miscarriage

Spontaneous loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy

Most miscarriages are caused by chromosome problems that make it impossible for the baby to develop

Other causes – drug and alcohol abuse, smoking, exposure to toxins, infection, obesity, etc.

Complications – Premature Birth A birth that is at least 3 weeks before a

baby’s due date (less than 37 weeks) 1 out of every 9 babies are born

premature each year in the US The earlier a baby is born, the more

severe his or her health problems are likely to be and may face lifelong problems; intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, breathing and respiratory problems, visual problems, hearing loss, and feeding or digestive problems.

Stages of Infancy and Childhood

Infancy – birth to 12 months Fastest growth Time of learning (eat, sit, crawl, walk)Early childhood – ages 1 – 3 Sense of autonomy – confidence that a

person can control his or her own bodyMiddle childhood – ages 4-6 Initiate play; recognize emotionsLate childhood – ages 7-12 Puberty may begin; school is important

***Most crucial years in a child’s overall development are 0-3 years

What decisions do parents face when raising children?

Child CareLatch-Key Children & Dual Working

Parents A latchkey child is a child who

returns from school to an empty home because his or her parent or parents are away at work, or a child who is often left at home with little or no parental supervision.